Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1946)

FIRST IN FILM NEWS MOTION PICTURE DAILY 59. NO. 40 NEW YORK, U.S.A., THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1946 TEN CENTS U. S. Predicts a Favorable N. Y. Case Decision Sees No Effect on Case Through Jackson Park Washington, Feb. 27. — The Department of Justice today minimized the significance of the Supreme Court decision of last Monday in the Jackson Park Theatre damage action insofar as its effect upon the government's New York anti-trust suit is concerned. Asserting that its New York case stands on its own merit, a spokesman for the Department predicted a favorable verdict there. He reiterated that the complete divorcement of exhibition from production and distribution is still the mission of the government. (Theatre divorcement was referred to by Presiding Judge John Bright as a "drastic" remedy and one the court would be unlikely to grant ; the state ( Continued on page 6) Chicago Court May End Classifications Chicago, Feb. 27. — The Chicago system of zoning and release, in effect since 1931, will be changed after Federal Judge Michael L. Igoe grants an injunction to restrain the major distributors from favoring affiliated circuits in booking pictures, in the opinion of Thomas C. McConnell, attorney for the Jackson Park Theatre. The Supreme Court has 30 days to {Continued on page 6) Johnston to Talk For British Loan Eric A. Johnston, president of the MPAA and of the U. S. Chamber of Commerce, will publicly endorse the proposed loan of $3,750,000,000 to England in addresses in New York, Washington and possibly elsewhere, subsequent to his return from Hollywood next month; he will leave Washington on Tuesday for the Coast to attend the Academy awards presentation at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on March 7. Distributors File 18 Percentage Suits in Baltimore Baltimore, Feb. 27.— Eighteen suits for damages from alleged percentage returns were filed here today in the Federal Court by various distributors against four Maryland exhibitors. Six suits were brought against Louis Tunick, operating the Brooklyn and Patapsco theatres in Baltimore and the Hollywood in Arbutus, a suit being brought by each of the following distributors : Warners, Paramount, 20th Century-Fox, United Artists, Universal and Loew's. Each distributor, except United Artists, also filed a suit against Morris and Benjamin Flaks, operating the Roosevelt and Highland theatres in Baltimore ; Columbia also filed a suit against the Flaks. W. J. Connellee, operating the New theatres in Elkton and Aberdeen is the defendant in each of six additional actions filed by the (Continued on page 6) Film Executives to Aid Charity Drive Leaders of the Catholic laity of New York, numbering about 1,000, representing the motion picture industry and almost every line of business, and the professions, are now organizing the special gifts committee of Cardinal Spellman's Committee of the Laity for the 1946 fund appeal of New York Catholic Charities. Universale John J. O'Connor is chairman of the film industry's sub-committee, and Altec's Bert Sanford is vice-chairman. Last year this group, whose solicitation is directed to the general public on the basis of the community service rendered by Catholic Charities, accounted for $706,169 out of total contributions of $1,676,187. The remainder was credited to a house-to (Continued on page 6) Construction in Emergencies Only Washington, Feb. 27. — Housing Administrator Wilson Wyatt said here Monday that he is presently working on a directive which will be forthcoming from the Civilian Production Administration and which will be designed to curtail all unessential construction. Wyatt says only emer (Continued on page 6) 'I A' Convention in Chicago July 22 The IATSE will hold its bi-annual convention at the Stevens Hotel, Chicago, starting July 22. Richard F. Walsh is international "IA" president. Highlights will be the election of officers and internal problems of the union, which are expected to be thrashed out on the floor. The convention will probably run a week or longer with over 1,000 delegates attending. James Brennan of RKO Circuit Dies James M. Brennan, 59, in charge of RKO Metropolitan New York and New Jersey theatres, died Tuesday evening in Fifth Avenue Hospital, New York City, from a heart attack. Brennan, who joined RKO in 1919, rose from the post of manager in Trenton. For 13 years, he was in charge of RKO Trenton theatres, and for the record he made, he was appointed division manager for New Jersey and Washington. In May, 1944, (Continued on page 6) James M. Brennan Noyes Resigns as SIMPP Official Hollywood, Feb. 27. — David M. Noyes today resigned as vice-president of the Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers, stating : "This action, contemplated for several months, is occasioned by purely personal considerations and is in no way attributed either to the society or to any member thereof." Noyes, formerly associated with Donald Nelson in other than industry activities, was appointed SIMPP vice-president when Nelson was appointed president. Nelson was succeeded as head of the War Production Board by J. A. Krug, who has just been appointed Secretary of the Interior by President Truman. Krug (Continued on page 6) Wage -Boost Talks for 3,000 Start 33 IATSE Exchange 'B' Locals Involved Distributors have started wage talks and negotiations for new contracts with IATSE "B" film exchange locals which represent almost 3,000 exchange service employes, including film shippers, inspectors and poster clerks, in the 33 exchange cities. Separate negotiations are to be conducted in each city between a committee of two exchange supervisors for the distributors, and representatives of the "B" local in each city, in keeping with the wishes of the majority of locals involved. IATSE "F" locals, representing 4,000 "white collar" workers in the ex (Continued on page 6) Schiller, Curtin, Franke Promoted Republic Pictures has made home office executive staff promotions, with A. E. Schiller, formerly in charge of home office operations, being named assistant _ to Walter L. Titus, Jr., vice-president in charge of worldwide branch operations, and John P. Curtin, formerly manager of the contract department, appointed assistant to Edward L. Walton, vice-president and assistant general sales manager. Fred W. Franke, formerly special (Continued on page 6) TAC Delegates to Set Voting Power The matter of whether all theatremen attending the convention of the Theatre Activities Committee at the Chase Hotel, St. Louis, on April 1-2, will have voting power — mainly on a constitution and officers, will be determined by the delegates who arc to be designated by respective state groups. The meetings will be open to all exhibitors. In This Issue "Strange Impersonation" is reviewed on page 5; "Border Bandits," 7. Booking chart is on page 8.